We All Scream

by Nona Wesley

  Chapter Nine

  Diahann shrank back into the couch and let Dee and their father steer the conversation with Sun. She watched the handsome Chinese man sit with authoritative confidence and talk with his hands as he discussed his history in the restaurant business and goals for the future. The gleam in his eyes as he spoke of branching out to new locations almost prompted her to laugh but she restrained herself. She didn’t want to give anyone the idea that she thought Sun’s idea ridiculous. Quite the contrary, his enthusiasm reminded her of when she first ventured into the family business—fresh and excited for a successful future.

  She wished to feel that way again with MMMarshall’s, and as she listened to Sun’s suggestions for marketing the shop, she realized exactly how far behind the curve she sat, and consequently kept the shop from reaching its true potential. It had never occurred to her to set up social media profiles for the parlor—she’d believed just the Web site could suffice—and the guilt slowly ate away at her. Of course, her father wouldn’t hold her blameless, but she could only wonder how much of a difference a daily weblog post might have made for their business.

  She had to admit, too, Sun appeared sexier than ever to her. The prowess he’d eagerly displayed in her bedroom parlayed easily into his business acumen. He clearly sold her father on his game plan, and Dee—usually the toughest nut to crack in the family where important decisions were concerned—also hung on his every word.

  “This is all great stuff, Sun,” Jim said finally. “We’ll definitely get started on the computer work. I know my nephews can help out there. I don’t know the first thing about Tweeter, except that I thought it was part of a stereo.” He laughed.

  “That’s Twitter, Daddy. And don’t worry, I’ve heard of it,” Dee said and rose. “Speaking of twittering, it’s time for me to flutter on out of here.”

  “What does that have to do with twittering?” Jim asked.

  “Nothing. Just looking for a graceful exit.” Dee winked and grabbed her purse. “Assuming there is still a meeting tomorrow, I definitely want to sit in on it.”

  “Yes. I want you to meet the rest of the family. You still have my son and other daughter to win over, but I don’t think that’ll be too hard,” Jim said to Sun, smiling warmly as the two men shook hands.

  “I look forward to it, and I’ll have sample of Mimi’s cupcakes to share,” Sun said.

  “Then I’ll definitely be early,” Dee said, cackling.

  Sun straightened and looked around, now suddenly unsure of himself. “I’ve taken enough of your time now, I should get back to the restaurant—”

  “Actually,” Diahann said, moving to escort her father toward the foyer, “if you don’t mind waiting a few minutes, I wouldn’t mind your professional opinion on some Web work I’ve been doing in my spare time.”

  “Oh.” The offer took Sun off guard, but he quickly recovered with an eager nod.

  Diahann leaned into her father as he kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow, baby. Told you everything’s gonna be alright. Mr. Li.”

  “Sun,” corrected the younger man, and seconds later the door closed behind father and daughter, leaving Diahann alone at last with the mysterious Mr. Li.

  He looked at her, took a deep breath, and asked, “We aren’t going to look at a Web site, are we?”

  Diahann bit her lip. “Uh-uh.”

  * * * *

  Grounding his feet on the carpet, Sun braced himself for some kind of physical reaction. The smoldering look in Diahann’s eyes implied desire, but as his failure to reveal his true identity to her could be interpreted as deceit, he thought to half-expect a slap on the face. Yet, Diahann stood still, almost indecisive as she studied him.

  “I should apologize,” she began, “for what I’ve been thinking about you.”

  Intrigued, Sun said, “If it’s dirty, there’s no need.”

  That won him a smile. “I was convinced you were just a delivery boy, not an entrepreneur. Though I have to admit I’m a bit miffed you didn’t correct my observations.”

  “Well, I’m not always one to brag about my successes, but in truth I don’t have much to speak of,” he said. “The take-out place does well, but I’m not reserving that BMW just yet.”

  “My father traded in his for something more economical.” Diahann’s smile twisted awry suddenly, and Sun’s heart went out to her. Any sign of downsizing she equated with failure.

  “I’m sorry to hear it. I hope what I’ve proposed will be mutually beneficial,” he said.

  Diahann edged closer. “Yes, about that.” She folded her arms over her breasts and tilted her head down. The demure move exposed a timid quality about her that Sun found charming. She didn’t try to be sexy, yet she aroused Sun all the same.

  “This…proposal wasn’t made with something else in mind, by chance?” she asked. “I mean, you asked me out—”

  “—And you said no,” Sun reminded her. “It disappointed me, yes, but if you’re willing to maintain a professional relationship I can go along with that.”

  “Can you, really?”

  Sun nodded, and waited out Diahann’s stare. Finally he cracked.

  “I wouldn’t exactly be happy about it…” he began, and stopped when Diahann laughed out loud.

  “I don’t think I would, either,” she said, her eyes sparkling. Sun inhaled and stuck out his chin slightly to capture the warmth radiating from her smile. The admission that she wanted more than a working relationship set his cock stirring to life.

  “However…”

  His mood quickly deflated, right along with arousal.

  “Would it be fair of me to pursue what we had once, now that I know you’re a businessman?” she asked earnestly, and stepped back as if to pace her living room. “I mean, I told you to your face that you weren’t in my league, and now I that I realize you always were…it wouldn’t be fair to you.”

  She turned her back to him, then slowly twisted back to glance in his direction. “I’d be using you if I agreed to…what are you doing?”

  Enough talk, Sun decided. Taking Diahann by the hand, he led her to the bedroom. “I’m granting you permission.”

  * * * *

  While Diahann sometimes took pride in her strong business acumen, she never considered herself dominant—in or out of the office. Now, naked and straddled across Sun’s bare thighs while he directed her hands to his stiffened cock, she wondered what had prevented her for so long to take charge in bed. Having Sun supine underneath her, at her mercy while she stroked his erection, proved to awake in her a dormant fantasy she hadn’t realized existed.

  “Use me all you want,” Sun whispered, then guided one hand to what appeared to be a sensitive spot under his sac. “Especially right here.”

  “What, like this?” She massaged the soft skin with one finger, relishing the way he writhed and hissed in response.

  “Mmm.”

  She smiled. Well if a simple touch brought that reaction, imagine what a tongue might do. Interested in testing a newfound theory, she slowly backed off the bed until her face was level with his groin. With one hand still cuffed around the base of his shaft, she used the other to lift his scrotum, giving her access to the shadowed sensitive area. She closed in and touched her tongue to the underside of his balls, delighting in the ensuing yelp.

  “Oh, God!”

  Encouraged, she laved and licked him, trailing upward to the silky, veined cock, which she enclosed between her lips in seconds. He twitched inside her loving, loose hold, and she moaned with every inch sliding into her. The salty flavor of his pre-cum ignited in her a hunger that couldn’t be sated until she enjoyed her own release.

  One, two, three strokes, up and down his cock appeared to leave Sun close to melting into her mattress, and Diahann reluctantly released him, offering him a brilliant smile.

  “Do you know how incredible you look doing that?” he said, his voice close to gasping.

  “I’ll bet it’s just as delicious as what I�
��ll see soon,” she said, and lunged forward beside him. She kissed his abdomen, then both nipples, then rose on her knees to straddle him again. This time, her pussy hovered about an inch away from his mouth. His warm breath caressed her skin, tingling her every nerve and heating the fire pooling low in her belly.

  He grasped her by the buttocks and lowered her gently to him, licking up her nether lips with broad strokes. Diahann arched her back and pinched her own nipples to enhance the sensuality of the moment. Sun felt incredible, and when his mouth pursed over her clit she thought she might hit the ceiling. She looked down as he worried the tight bud toward orgasm.

  She didn’t have long. Her thighs quaked, and she centered all concentration on his tongue and her clit, and soon pleasure overtook her with such force that she collapsed on him.

  “Oh!”

  She rolled back in time to avoid hitting his neck, and instead pressed against his chest. Quickly she moved away, but not without some resistance from Sun, who didn’t look disturbed by the gentle crash.

  “Stay upright,” he urged, and indicated for her to grasp the headboard. Diahann complied as he rolled off the bed and reached for his pants.

  Seconds later, a quiet rip and roll of latex alerted her to Sun’s preparedness. After a moment’s pause the mattress sagged beneath her and strong hands cupped her hips.

  “Bend just a little bit. Perfect.” Sun helped her to bend as he spoke, and positioned her ass as high in the air as she could go and stay comfortable. “Beautiful,” he said, and positioned his cock at the entrance of her pussy for just a second before driving deep.

  Yes! What guilt Diahann harbored over her treatment of Sun faded as the realization of what she could, and did, have filled her so completely. With each thrust Diahann pushed against Sun, meeting him with rougher force that directed his cock over that one secret place that, when touched enough, made her feel ohsoverygood…just like that, don’t ever stop.

  She bit her lip but couldn’t stop from mewling her approval. She glanced behind her to watch Sun’s face contort with unspoken pleasure. His own release approached, and Diahann tightened her inner walls to help him along. Clearly he enjoyed the sensation, for in seconds he cried out and stilled his movement, holding his cock deep inside her.

  “God! Shit,” he cursed, and more words came out that Diahann couldn’t quite hear. No matter anyway, she had exhausted him. Slowly Sun slid out of her, and lowered to the mattress, hooking an arm around her waist to bring her into a spoon position.

  “So,” Sun kissed her cheek, “you think you’d like to have dinner with me sometime?”

  “Sure,” Diahann said. Nothing wrong with mixing it up, though, and having dessert first.

  Chapter Ten

  Three months later

  For what had to be the millionth time that day, the bell on the door chimed to signal a new customer. Dee smiled, thinking of how she’d never tire of that sound. These last three months, since partnering with Sun Li and his sister, showed a dramatic increase in business. Mimi’s cupcakes were a hit, and those who came to buy them rediscovered the ice cream concoctions that had made MMMarshall’s a local landmark.

  That’s right, we’re back, baby! Dee smirked to herself and raised her head to greet the lovely black woman studying the menu board.

  “How can I help you today?”

  The lady gave Dee an odd look—she furrowed her brows as though trying to place Dee from another meeting.

  “I’m looking for Diahann Marshall,” she said.

  “Oh, today’s her day off,” Dee replied, letting go of a fleeting moment of jealousy. Ever since Diahann hooked up with her Jackie Chan, the two had taken more than one “working holiday” to cook up new marketing ideas. Dee herself should be so productive in the sack.

  “I’m her sister,” she added. “I’m sure I could help you.”

  The lady waved a hand and backed away. “That’s okay. It’s not urgent. If you do see her, could you tell her that Angela Dinkins stopped by to thank her?”

  “Sure thing. Angela Dinkins.” It took a few seconds for that name to sink in. Oh, that Angela Dinkins.

  Mrs. Dinkins must have noticed the change in Dee’s expression. She smiled, and said, “Better make that Ms. Angela Warren. I’m going back to my old name.”

  “I would, too.” She waved the woman off and laughed to herself. So now poor Wayne had nobody to whom he could leave sexy text messages. Oh, baby.

  Another body passed through the open door as Mrs. Dinkins was leaving. Dee only caught the view in her peripheral vision and froze on hearing his voice.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She took a deep breath, straightened, and turned slowly toward Chet. Fluttering her eyelashes, she let go with what she hoped was a dazzling smile. “A lady as incredible as me is still single and unattached in this crazy world,” she said, her voice sweeter than anything served over the counter. “Don’t you find that funny?”

  Chet leaned forward, his handsome face so close Dee could almost lick him like today’s special. Damn! Who would have thought she’d switch to vanilla?

  “Hilarious,” he replied, winking back.

  Watch for Dee and Chet’s story in

  A Moment on the Lips

  About the Author

  Nona Wesley read her first Harlequin novel at the age of thirteen, and since then has devoured every romance she can find. Twenty years later, her dream of becoming a romance author was put into motion with a contract from Phaze Books for her erotic short, We All Scream. She is also the author of Drawn to You and the upcoming Single Ladies.

  Please visit NonaWesleyRomance.com to follow Nona’s writing journey.